Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 7, Conan the Barbarian 8

Conan 007 coverConan the Barbarian #7 – “The Lurker Within” – Roy Thomas/Barry Windsor Smith/Dan Adkins, Sal Buscema

This one starts with Conan on the Road of Kings outside Numalia, second-largest city in Nemedia. He saves a high-born lady (Aztrias) from wolves and agrees to drive her chariot to the city (since he probably would’ve been refused entry otherwise). Inside the teeming city, Conan runs the chariot into another, driven by Kallian, owner of the Hall of Relics. A guard captain (Dionus) intervenes and Conan is ready to fight until Aztrias smooths things over. (She’s the governor’s niece, so the other two defer to her.) Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 7, Conan the Barbarian 8”

Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 5, Conan the Barbarian 6

Conan 005 coverConan the Barbarian #5 – “Zukala’s Daughter” – Roy Thomas/Barry Windsor Smith/Frank Giacoia

This one starts with Conan passing through a village in Zamora on his way to the debauched city known as Shadizar the Wicked. As Conan talks to a weaponsmith, the skies darken and the smith freaks out, telling Conan the local warlord (Zukala) has sent someone to collect a tribute in gold from the villagers. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 5, Conan the Barbarian 6”

Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 3, Conan the Barbarian 4

Conan 003 coverConan the Barbarian #3 – “Twilight of the Grim Grey God” – Roy Thomas/Barry Windsor Smith/Sal Buscema

This story begins with a manacled Conan making his way through the wilds of Hyperborea. He runs into a grey-haired warrior, who tells him Hyperborea and Brythunia will soon be embroiled in a border war. Conan gets snotty with the guy, who tells him to respect his betters and shows him some Valkyrie-type maidens riding through the sky. It’s obvious this is some kind of god, but Conan doesn’t seem too impressed. Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 3, Conan the Barbarian 4”

Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 1, Conan the Barbarian 2

Conan the Barbarian 1 coverConan the Barbarian #1 – “The Coming of Conan” – Roy Thomas/Barry Windsor Smith/Dan Adkins

Welcome to my first review of Conan, a comic I’ve read only sporadically over the years, so a lot of the issues will be new to me. This issue was originally cover-dated October 1970 (a couple years before I was born), but I have read it before in the first Chronicles of Conan collection (which is what I’m using to do these reviews since I like reading Roy Thomas’s comments about the various issues). Continue reading “Conan Reviews: Conan the Barbarian 1, Conan the Barbarian 2”